The family of a pregnant woman killed by a man fleeing from police says she was a hero.

Denisse Lopez, 25, was in a truck that was hit by a driver trying to get away from police on Sunday evening in Overland Park. She was 39 weeks pregnant.

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The baby was delivered and is doing well in a hospital, but Lopez died of her injuries.

“I thank God that the baby was saved,” said Carol Baska-Morney, a neighbor of the baby’s father, Mario Madero.

The baby had been scheduled to arrive on Saturday. The crash that killed his mother and changed the family forever, happened Sunday evening.

“It breaks my heart this had to happen, and for no reason,” said Baska-Morney.

She said she watched Madero grow up.

“He was such a good kid,” she said.

Surveillance video shows a driver running from police and speeding toward the intersection of 75th Street and Metcalf Avenue. According to court records, the fleeing driver hit Madero’s truck first. The impact threw Lopez from the vehicle.

According to court records, the pursuit started when police tried to pull over Raphael Sherman, 21, for a broken tail light. After the wreck, police said they found a stolen handgun in the car.

In a statement, the families said Wednesday, “While we will miss Denisse every day, she is a hero for giving our families a baby, even as she suffered traumatic injuries.”

“I pray for Mario and his family and for Denisse’s family,” said Baska-Morney. “If I could see Mario right now, I would just want to put my arms around him and hug him and tell him how sorry I am this happened.”

Lopez attended Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, and worked there as well.

“As a family, we are grieving and our focus remains on prayer,” the school said in a statement. “We ask you to join us is prayer for Denisse’s family during this difficult time.”